Transuterine insufflator



Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES TRANSUTERINE INSUFFLATOR MaxKevelson, Far Rockaway, and Oscar H. Bloom, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 3, 1938,,Serial No. 222,818

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in transuterine insulilators.

Its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for testingthe patency condition of the Fallopian tubes, which is automatic in itsoperation and which can have no harmful effect upon the patient.

Such arrangements as have been available heretofore are quite complex,use gases which are not always available, require a considerable amountof care and skill in use and are capable of causing the patient muchdiscomfort and even serious injury.

Another object of our invention is to overcome all of thesediificulties.

Gynecologists have determined that at least one hundred and eight (180)cubic centimeters of gas or air can be injected in a patient through theFallopian tubes without discomfort or ill effects. We have provided asimple automatic arrangement by means of which the amount of air usedcannot exceed this or some other predetermined maximum. Authorities havealso determined that gas or air pressures up to two hundred (200)millimeters of mercury can be used safely. By our device this or someother predetermined pressure maximum cannot be exceeded.

These and other objects will appear in the following specification inwhich we will describe an apparatus which embodies the invention, thenovel features of which will be set forth in appended claims.

The drawing which forms a part of this specific arrangement is adiagrammatic representation of a number of devices arranged to cooperatein a novel manner to embody our invention.

In designates an electrically driven air compressor of constant deliveryrate. We prefer to use one having a capacity of sixty ('60) cubiccentimeters of air per minute. I I is a tube which can be led to thepatient. A pinch valve I2 is interposed on or in this tubing.

Between the compressor and the valve is a branch pipe l3 which leads tothe reservoir 20 of a mercury manometer, the vertical arm 2| of which isprovided with graduations, by means of which the pressure in tube l Imay be observed. 22 is an electrical terminal in contact at all timeswith the mercury in reservoir 20. 23 is another terminal adjustablysupported in a vented plug in the upper end of the arm 2|.

30 is a time switch diagrammatically represented by a rectangle Withinwhich are the letters TS. This is of the type which may be set to openan electrical circuit at a desired interval of time after such circuitis closed.

it is a normally open push button or switch. 56 designates generally arelay. is a lamp and It! a resistance. These parts and their co- 5ordinated relationship will be more specifically described in thefollowing description of the operation of the apparatus. The tube II isled to a patient to be examined and applied through an applicator in theusual known manner. The 10 time switch is set to open at a desiredinterval of time after a circuit has been established through it, forexample, three minutes after its circuit is closed.

The operator then closes the switch 40 momenl5 tarily. A circuit isthereby established from the +main which is connected to the timeswitch, through the time switch, the switch 40 and conductor 5! to thewinding of relay 50. The other end of the relay winding is connectedthrough 20 conductor 52 and resistance Hi to the main. The relay willthen be energized and will move its arm 53 against contacts 54 and 55.The first of these establishes a self-holding circuit for the relay byconductor 4| from the time switch, relay 25 arm 53, contact 54 andconductor 56 to one end of the relay winding. The other end of the relaywinding remains at all times connected with the negative main throughresistance 70. Thus, the operator need but close switch 40 momentarily.

The relay arm 53 upon touching contact 55 closes another circuit fromthe time switch through conductor 51 to the motor of the air compressorIll. The other side of this motor is connected permanently with thenegative main. The 35 lamp cc is connected between conductor 5'! and thenegative main and serves as a visible indicator to show when the motorcircuit is closed.

The'air from the generator will pass to the patient and in case ofpatency, through her 0 Fallopian tubes without building up an undueamount of pressure. This operation willcontinue until the time switchopens the circuit to the motor and the circuit through the relay. If noundue pressure is indicated by the manometer 45 during this period, itwill show that there is no stoppage in the Fallopian tubes.

It is to be noted that with the factors used to explain the aforesaidoperation, namely, a compressor capacity of sixty (60) cubic centimeters50 per minute and a time limit of three minutes, the maximum amount ofair injected into the patient will be one hundred and eighty (180) cubiccentimeters. It cannot exceed this limit of safety.

If the patients tubes are not patent, a pressure will be built up whichwill be immediately indicated by the manometer. The attendant may closethe valve l2 to prevent an increase in pressure and may shut ofi thepower from the com- 5 pressor by opening the main switch.

In no case, however, can the pressure exceed a safe amount. When themercury rises in the vertical arm of the manometer until it reaches thecontact 23, the winding of the relay will be short circuited and it willopen automatically to open the motor circuit. This is because one end ofthe relay winding is connected to contact 23 by conductors 5i and 58 andits other end to contact 22 by conductor 59, so that when con-' tacts 23and 22 are inter-connected by, the mercury in the manometer, the relaywinding will be short circuited and its arm 53 will move away fromcontacts 54 and 55, opening the motor circuit and the manometer circuit.

We have pointed out that the contact 23 is adjustably positioned and canbe set to effect the short circuit whenlthe 'air pressure in the patientand in. the apparatus reaches any desired amount, suchas two hundred(200) millimeters of mercury, which is known to be a safe maximum.

The effects in cases of patency or of stoppage have been pointed out. Itis obvious that intermediate conditions of the Fallopian tubes may beobserved similarly, but under all conditions, without any harm to thepatient.

The electrical circuits shown may be varied according to the. availablepower supply and other modifications made within the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and we intend no limitations other than those imposed bythe appended claims.

What We claim is:

1. In combination with a transuterine insuflia- 4O tor having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator, a constant speed motor arranged to drive the compressor at afixed rate to have a constant rate of discharge, means for stopping themotor positively at the end of a predetermined period of its operation,and means for preventing the pressure of the discharged air exceeding apredetermined upper limit.

2. In combination with a transuterine insufila- 50 tor having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator,

a constant speed motor arranged to drive the compressor at a fixed rateto have a constant rate of discharge, means for stopping the motor posi-55 tively at the end of a predetermined period of its operation,.andmeans for stopping the motor positively upon the pressure of thedischarged air reaching a predetermined limit.

3. In combination with a transuterine insufila- 60 tor having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator,

a constant speed electric motor, a circuit therefor, said motor beingarranged to drive the compressor at a fixed rate to have a constant rateof discharge, a time switch in the motor circuit arranged to open themotor circuit positively at the end of a predetermined period of itsoperation, and a pressure responsive device actuated by air dischargedby the compressor arranged to open the motor circuit positively upon thepressure of the discharged air reaching a predetermined limit.

4. In combination with a transuterine insufilator having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator, a constant speed electric motor, a circuit therefor, saidmotor being arranged to drive the compressor at a fixed rate to have afixed rate of discharge, an adjustable time switch in the motor circuitarranged to open the motor circuit positively at the end of a desiredpredetermined period of its operation, a pressure responsivedeviceactuated by air discharged by the compressor arranged to open themotor circuit positively upon the pressure of the discharged airreaching 'a'predetermined limit, and means for setting said device tooperate at the desired pressure.

'5. In combination with a transuterine insufllator having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator, a constant speed electric motor, a circuit therefor, saidmotor being arranged to drive the compressor at a fixed rate to have afixed rate of discharge, an adjustable time switch arranged to open themotor circuit positively at the end of a desired predetermined period ofits operation, and a pressure responsive device actuated by the airdischarged by the compressor arranged to stop the motor positively 'uponthe pressure of the discharged air reaching a predetermined limit, aself-holding relay arranged tocontrol the motor circuit, circuitsinterconnecting the time switch, the relay and the pressure responsivedevice, and means for energizing the relay to close the motor circuit,said time switch being arranged to break the relay circuit to therebyopen the motor circuit, said pressure responsive device being arrangedto short-circuit the relay circuit to thereby open the motor circuit.

6. In combinationwith a transuterine insufilator having an aircompressor and a conduit for leading air from the compressor to anapplicator, a constant speed electric motor, a circuit therefor, saidmotor being arranged to drive the compressor at a fixed rate to have afixed rate of discharge, an adjustable time switch arranged to open themotor circuit positively at the end of a desired predetermined period ofits operation and a pressure responsive device actuated by the airdischarged by the compressor arranged to stop the motor positively uponthe pressure of the discharged air reaching a predetermined limit, aself-holding relay arranged to control the motor circuit, circuitsinterconnecting the time switch, the relay and the pressure responsivedevice, and a manually operated switch in said circuits for energizingthe relay to close the motor circuit, said time switch being arranged tobreak the relay circuit to thereby open the motor circuit and saidpressure responsive device being arranged to short-circuit the relaycircui to thereby open the motor circuit.

' MAX KEVELSON.

OSCAR H. BLOOM.

